Apparatus for spreading tubular fabric



April 8, 1969 w. w. COATES APPARATUS FOR SPREADING TUBULAR FABRIC Filed Feb. 16. 1967 Sheet INVENTOE BY Wmus \McoATes ATTQRNEY-S Apnl 8, 1969 w. w. COATES APPARATUS FOR SPREADING TUBULAR FABRIC Filed Feb. 16. 19s? Sheet INVENTOR.

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ATTORNEYS April 8, 1969 w. w. coATEs 3,436,796

APPARATUS FOR SPREADING TUBULAR FABRIC Filed Feb. 16, 1967 Sheet 3 of 4 INVENTOR:

Wx uufi \V. COATE-S Bymwwzg g w ATTORNEYS April 8, 1969 w. w. COATES APPARATUS FOR SPREADING TUBULAR FABRIC Filed Feb. 16. 1967 Sheet ATTORNEYS Bymm ag dwwa 3,436,796 APPARATUS FOR SPREADING TUBULAR FABRIC Willis W. Coates, 7 Brant Ave, Fort Johnson, NH. 12070 Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 552,053, May 23, 1966. This application Feb. 16, 1967, Ser. No. 616,663

Int. Cl. D06c /00, 3/00 US. Cl. 26-55 12 Claims ABSTRACT ()F THE DISCLOSURE This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Ser. No. 552,058, filed May 23, 1966, now abandoned, and relates generally to a tubular fabric spreading apparatus of the type wherein a tubular fabric is drawn over a spreader frame disposed within the tubular fabric. More particularly, the present apparatus includes improved means for propelling the fabric along opposite sides and over the center of the spreader frame to provide positive control of the condition of the fabric as it moves over the spreader frame.

It is well known to draw tubular fabric over a spreader frame to substantially flatten and spread the tubular fabric so that it is then in the proper condition for further processing, such as steaming, heat-setting or the like, in which the fabric may be passed between calender rolls, through driers, ringers, or the like. In these prior known types of tubular fabric spreading devices, the opposite sides of the fabric are subjected to a greater amount of frictional drag than the central portion. It is usually desirable to stretch or spread the tubular fabric to a considerable degree in order to prevent wrinkling of the fabric and the frictional drag on opposite side edges is greatly increased as the fabric is stretched or spread to a greater degree. The frictional drag on opposite sides of the fabric causes the central portion of the fabric to be drawn ahead of the opposite side edges to cause the fabric to bow in the direction the tubular fabric is drawn over the spreader frame. This condition must be corrected, particularly in the case of knitted tubular fabric, so that the courses extend in a straight transverse position when the fabric is processed, such as by heat-setting. Any bow in printed or striped fabrics must also be corrected during the spreading operation.

In an attempt to correct this bowing problem, positively driven wheels have been positioned adjacent opposite sides of the fabric spreader to engage and drive the 0pposite edge portions of the fabric as they move over opposite sides of the spreader frame. These drive wheels are driven at a very fast rate in an attempt to advance the edge portions of the fabric a sufficient amount to bring the courses into transverse alignment. Heretofore, only one or two drive wheels have been provided at each side of the spreader frame so that the frictional drag on the fabric is reduced only in the areas immediately adjacent the drive wheels, thereby causing successive stretching and compacting of the fbaric in areas in advance of and following the location of the drive wheels.

The drive wheels at each side of the spreader frame are also subject to considerable slippage on the surface of the 3,436,796 Patented Apr. 8, 1969 fabric. In an attempt to overcome the slippage problem, the drive rolls are usually pressed inwardly against the fabric with substantial pressure. The pressure of the rolls against the fabric tends to crush the fabric and may distort the stitches, cut the fabric, or impart pressure marks or lines to opposite sides of the fabric. Any marks or distortions formed along opposite sides of the fabric by the drive wheels may prevent the use of the side portions of the fabric tube and cause considerable waste.

With the foregoing in mind, it is a main object of the present invention to provide an improved fabric spreading apparatus which includes means for positively advancing the opposite side portions of the flattened tubular fabric at the speed required to maintain the courses of the fabric in transverse alignment throughout at least a major portion of the length of travel of the fabric over the spreader frame.

It is another object of the present invention to provide means for advancing opposite side portions of the fabric which includes a plurality of spaced fabric advancing members adapted to move along parallel to opposite sides of the spreader frame and positively engage the fabric without damage to the side portions of the fabric as they are moved along the spreader frame.

It is another object of the present invention to provide draw rolls extending the full width of the tubular fabric and feed rolls engaging only the central portion of the tubular fabric. The feed rolls engage the tubular fabric as it moves onto the spreader frame and the draw rolls provide an even pull on the fabric as it moves off the spreader frame. Variable speed control means is provided for selectively varying the rotational speed of the feed rolls, relative to the draw rolls and the fabric advancing members, to thereby permit positive control of the condition of the fabric as it moves over the spreader frame.

It is a more specific object of the present invention to provide fabric advancing means of the type described which includes a plurality of spaced fabric conveying or advancing pin wheels that are supported on moving conveyor chains at each side of the spreader frame so that the pins of the wheels engage and positively move th opposite side portions of the fabric as it is drawn over the spreader frame. The fabric conveying pin wheels are maintained in a non-rotating condition as they move into engagement with the opposite side edges of the fabric and advance the same at a predetermined rate, relative to the rate of advance of the center of the fabric. The outer portions of the pins on the conveying wheels are preferably inclined in the direction of movement so that they may positively engage the fabric without damage and means is provided for imparting rotation to the wheels at the point at which they begin to move away from the fabric so that the pins will be withdrawn from the fabric without damaging the same.

It is a further specific object of the present invention to provide means for supporting the pin wheel conveyor chains at opposite sides of the fabric spreader for adjustment toward and away from each other, in accordance with the width of the spreader frame and the tubular fabric being drawn thereover.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the discription proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in Which FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a spreader frame apparatus incorporating the improved fabric advancing means of the present invention at opposite sides of the fabric spreader and showing the tubular fabric in dash-dot lines as it moves over the spreading frame, from right to left;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the spreader frame apparatus, looking inwardly at the bottom of FIG- URE l;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 33 in FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 4 is an isometric view of one of the fabric advancing members, illustrating the manner in which the same is supported for movement and looking upwardly in the direction of the arrow 4 in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary view taken along the line 55 in FIGURE 3 with the forward right-hand portion being in plan and the left-hand forward portion being shown in section;

FIGURE 6 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 6-6 in FIGURE 1 and at a reduced scale; and

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary isometric view of the leading end of the spreader frame, illustrating the manner in which it is held in position by the entrance feed rolls.

The tubular fabric spreading apparatus of the present application generally includes a spreader frame, broadly indicated at A in FIGURE 1, adapted to fit within and spread tubular fabric F as it is drawn thereover by primary fabric drawing or advancing means, such as draw rolls 10, 11 (FIGURES 2 and 6), and feed rolls 12, 13 which maintain the spreader frame in position and control the movement of the central portion of the fabric. The fabric spreader frame A may be of any conventional type and is preferably provided with means for varying the width thereof so that fabric tubes F of various diameters may be spread on the apparatus. As the fabric F is drawn over the spreader frame A, the tube is flattened and preferably stretched slightly in a transverse direction and opposite side portions of the flattened tube are normally drawn over and in frictional contact with the opposite sides of the spreader frame.

Improved fabric advancing or propelling means, broadly indicated at B and B is provided adjacent opposite sides of the spreader frame A (FIGURE 1) for positively moving the side portions of the flattened tubular fabric at a predetermined rate, relative to the central portion of the fabric, and to thereby reduce or overcome the frictional drag on opposite side portions of the tube as it engages opposite sides of the spreader frame. The spreading apparatus includes side frames 14, 15 (FIGURE 1) which support suitable bearings for the draw rolls 10, 11 and the feed rolls 12, 13.

The spreader frame A includes a trailing tail portion (FIGURE 1) which has an enlarged hold-back cross member 21 attached thereto. Cross member 21 may be in the form of a roller that is maintained in the nip of the feed rolls 12, 13 and prevents forward movement of the spreader frame A as the fabric F moves from right to left in FIGURE 1. The forward end of tail portion 20 is pivotally connected as at 22 to the rear edge of a support plate 23. Threaded rod support members 24, 24' are suitably supported for adjustment at their inner ends on the support plate 23 and their outer ends are fixedly connected (FIGURE 7) to spaced apart guide rod side portions 25a, 25b and 25a, 25b. These guide rod side portions extend along oposite sides of the spreader frame and opposite side portions of the tubular fabric F are drawn therealong. The leading ends of the guide rods 25a, 25b and 25a, and 2512' are joined and provide a pivotal support for opposite ends of a U-shaped guide rod portion 25.

The spreader frame A is supported in the desired horizontal position by means of rollers 30, which engage the fabric F passing beneath the support plate 23. The rollers 30, 30' are supported for free rotation on threaded adjustment and support shafts 31, 32 which support the fabric advancing members B and B in a manner to be presenty described. If desired, the rollers 30, 30 may be fixed on rotating drive shafts, not shown.

The fabric advancing members B, B at each side of the spreader frame A are identical and only the member B will be described in detail, like reference characters being applied to the corresponding parts of the member B, with the prime notation added. The fabric advancing mem'ber B includes an elongate base plate 35 (FIGURE 3) which extends throughout at least the major portion of the length of the spreader frame A and a guide plate 36 is supported, in spaced relationship thereabove, by means of an I-beam 37. Opposite sides of the upper portion of the guide plate 36 are provided with guide grooves for slidably supporting the matingly grooved lower portions of a plurality of spaced apart pin wheel support brackets 40 (FIGURE 4) which are connected together by a conveyor chain 41.

Each support bracket 40 rotatably supports the medial portion of a vertical shaft 42 (FIGURE 3) and a pin wheel 43 is fixed at the upper end thereof. The pin wheel 43 is provided with a plurality of outwardly extending bent fabric engaging pins 44 thereon. The inner ends of the pins 44 are suitably embedded in the pin wheel 43 and extend outwardly therefrom in a radial direction and their outer portions are bent in the direction of movement of the pin wheels as they move along the inner reach of the conveyor chain 41. The outer ends of the pins 44 are pointed to engage and penetrate the fabric stretched between the upper and lower spreader frame guide rods 25a, 25b (FIGURE 3) as the pin wheels 43 are moved along parallel to these spreader frame guide rods by the conveyor chain 41.

The conveyor chain 41 passes around an idler sprocket 50 (FIGURE 1) at one end of the fabric advancing member B and around a driven sprocket 51 at its other end. Curved extensions 36:: (FIGURES 1 and 5) are provided at each end of the guide plate 36 to support the brackets 40 as they move around the sprockets 50, 51. The driven sprocket 51 (FIGURE 3) is fixed on the upper end of a vertical drive shaft 52 which is rotatably supported in the guide plate 36 and its lower end is rotatably supported in a suitable bearing 53, fixed on the lower surface of the base plate 35. A bevel gear 54 is fixed on the lower end of the shaft 52 and engages with a bevel gear 55 which is keyed to a drive shaft 56. A downwardly extending arm 57 of an internally threaded bearing member 58 engages the gear 55 to maintain it in engagement with the gear 54 when the member B and gear 55 are moved along the shaft 56, by means of rotation of the threaded support shafts 31, 32, by means to be presently described.

The drive shaft 56 is connected by suitable sprockets and a drive chain 60 to a main drive shaft 61 which is suitably supported adjacent opposite ends on the side frames 14, 15 (FIGURES 1 and 2). A drive motor 62 is suitably supported by the frame and is drivingly connected to the main drive shaft 61 by means of a belt 63 and a variable speed pulley 64 so that rotation, at the desired speed, may be imparted to the main drive shaft 61 and, through the driving connections heretofore described, the fabric advancing elements B, B may be moved at the desired speed along opposite sides of the spreader A.

A drive pinion 66 (FIGURES 3 and 4) is fixed to the lower end of the shaft 42 and is normally maintained in a. non-rotating position by means of a pawl 67 which is pivotally supported at one end on the support bracket 40 (FIGURE 4). A leaf spring 67a urges the pawl 67 toward the pinion 66 so that a locking tooth 68 (FIGURE 5) is normally maintained in engagement with the teeth of the pinion 66. Thus, the locking pawl 67 normally maintains the drive pinion 66 and the pin wheel 43 in a non-rotating position so that the pins 44 engage and grip the fabric as the pin wheels move along the inner reach and adjacent the opposite edge portions of the spreader frame A, as shown in the upper left-hand portion of FIGURE 3.

As the pin wheels 43 successively reach the end of the straight-line path of travel, as shown in the left-hand portion of FIGURE 5, they are preferably rotated in a clockwise direction, to insure that the pointed ends of the pins 44 will be moved out of engagement with the fabric as the pin WhECl 43 starts around the curved end, carried by the drive sprocket 51, and moves away from the fabric F. As shown in FIGURE 5, rotation is imparted to the pin wheel 43 and the pinion 66 as the pin wheel 43 starts to move away from the fabric F to insure proper withdrawal or removal of the pins 44 from the fabric. In the present instance, clockwise rotation is imparted to the pin wheel by means of a plurality of speed-up gears which are drivingly rotated by the shaft 52. The free and of the locking pawl 67 is adapted to engage an adjustable cam plate 70 which is supported for longitudinal adjustment on the lower surface of the guide plate 36 so that when it is engaged by the locking pawl 67, the locking tooth 68 moves out of engagement with the teeth of the driving pinion 66 to thereby release the pin wheel 43 for rotation upon engagement of the pinion 66 with a rotating gear 72.

The gear 72 is rotatably supported on the upper end portion of a shaft 73 which is fixed at its lower end in an adjustable support plate 74 and the gear 72 has a smaller gear 75 fixed therebeneath. The gear 75 is drivingly engaged by a gear 76, which is rotatably supported on the upper end portion of a stub shaft 77, the lower end of which is suitably supported in the adjustable support plate 74. A smaller gear 78 is fixed to the gear 76 and is drivingly engaged by a larger drive gear 80 which is in turn fixed on the drive shaft 52.

As best shown in FIGURE 3, the adjustable support plate 74 has a downwardly extending sleeve or boss por tion which is adjustably secured to an upstanding boss portion 82 on the base plate 35. Thus, the position of the support plate 74 may be varied, relative to the shaft 52, so that the pinion 66 will engage the gear 72 at an earlier or a later time to thereby correspondingly advance or delay the point at which rotation of the pin wheel 43 begins. Of course, suitable adjustment of the operating cam 70 must also be made to correspond with any adjustment of the support plate 74 so that the pinion 66 is released for rotation prior to the time that it engages the drive gear 72. As the pin wheel 43 moves around and out of engagement with the drive gear 72, and the locking pawl 67 moves off the cam 70, the locking tooth 68 will engage the pinion 66 and thereby maintain the pin wheel 43 in a non-rotating condition as it moves around the drive sprocket 51 and the support bracket 40 moves onto the grooved guide plate 36a to be carried along the outer reach of the conveyor chain 41 and around the idler sprocket 50, and back along the inner reach, in engagement with the fabric.

The two adjustment screw shafts 31, 32 (FIGURE 1) are suitably supported on the side frames 14, and are connected together by a chain 85. A hand wheel 86 is fixed on one end of the shaft 32 so that manual rotation may be simultaneously applied to the screw shafts 31, 32 to thereby move the fabric advancing elements B, B outwardly or inwardly, relative to the spreader frame A. Also, as has heretofore been described, the spreader frame may be adjusted widthwise, depending upon the size of the tubular fabric being processed, and to correspond with any widthwise adjustment of the fabric advancing elements B, B.

The rotational speed of the main draw rolls 10, 11 must be carefully adjusted to correspond to the speed of movement of the opposite side portions of the fabric F by the pin wheels 43, and, to this end, a variable speed drive means connects the draw rolls 10, 11 to the main drive shaft 61 (FIGURE 2). To this end, the draw rolls 10, 11 are drivingly connected by gears 90 and a pulley 91 is connected to the shaft of the lower draw roll 11. A drive belt 91a extends around the pulley 91 and around a variable speed pulley 92 (FIGURES 1 and 2) which is in turn fixed on one end of the main drive shaft 61.

An idler pulley 93 is rotatably supported on the inner end of a control lever 94 which is pivotally supported intermediate its ends on the frame 14 and its other end is connected to one end of an adjustment screw shaft 95. With the control lever 94 positioned as shown in solid lines in FIGURE 2, the speed of rotation imparted from the main drive shaft 61 to the draw rolls 10, 11 is at a maximum and as the screw shaft 95 is rotated to move the control lever 94 and the idler pulley 93 to the dotted line position shown in FIGURE 2, the relative speed of the draw rolls 10, 11, relative to the rotational speed of the main drive shaft 61, is reduced to a minimum. Thus, by adjusting the position of the control lever 94, the speed of the draw rolls 10, 11, relative to the speed of advance of the pin wheels 43 may be varied as desired. Normally, the speed will be adjusted so that the pin wheels 43 move opposite sides of the fabric F at the same rate as it is drawn over the spreader by the draw rolls 10, 11.

The feed rolls 12, 13 do not extend throughout the complete width of the fabric F (FIGURE 1) so that they may function as how control means since their relative speed may be adjusted to advance or retard the central portion of the fabric F as it passes over the spreader frame. The feed rolls 12, 13 are supported for rotation on the opposite side frames 14, 15 and are drivingly connected by gears 99, only one of which is shown in FIG- URE 1. The roll 13 has a pulley connected to the drive shaft thereof and a belt 101 (FIGURE 2) drivingly connects it to a variable speed pulley 102 (FIGURE 1) which is fixed on one end of the main drive shaft 61.

The speed of the feed rolls 12, 13 may be varied, relative to the speed of the fabric advancing elements B, B and the speed of the draw rolls 10, 11. To this end, an idler pulley 103 is rotatably supported on one end of a control lever 104 (FIGURE 1) which is pivotally supported intermediate its ends on the frame 15 and its other end is connected to an adjustment screw shaft 105. Thus, rotation of the shaft 105 changes the position of the control lever 104 and thereby effectively increases or decreases the diameter of the variable speed pulley 102 to thereby selectively increase or decrease the speed of the feed rolls 12, 13.

In operation, the fabric F is drawn over the spreader frame A by means of the draw rolls 10, 11 and the opposite side portions are advanced by movement of the pin wheels 43 at opposite sides of the fabric spreader frame A. The rotational speed of the draw rolls 10, 11 may be varied as desired (by rotating the adjustment screw shaft 95) so that the fabric is properly drawn over the spreader frame at the desired speed. Since the spaced pinwheels 43 positively engage and move the side portions of the flattened tubular fabric along the spreader frame, the normal frictional drag of the spreader frame is overcome and the condition of the fabric can be controlled.

In the case of knit tubular fabrics, it is important to maintain the courses of stitches in a straight transverse line as the fabric is longitudinally drawn over the spreader frame A. As best shown in FIGURE 1, the pin wheels 43 successively move into engagement with the fabric portions at opposite sides of the spreader frame A and remain in engagement therewith throughout at least a major portion of the length of travel of the fabric edges along the opposite side edges of the fabric spreader A. Thus, there is no stretching and compacting of the fabric as is passes over the spreader frame and the opposite side portions can be moved at the desired speed, relative to the center of the fabric. Also, the speed of the feed rolls 12, 13 may be varied as desired (by rotating the adjustment screw shaft 105) so that the central portion of the fabric is advanced at the proper speed to maintain the straight transverse line of courses in the fabric F. If desired, the draw rolls 10, 11 and/or the feed rolls 12, 13 may be knurled or covered with a suitable frictional material.

The present tubular fabric spreading apparatus may be used in connection with any of the well known treatment procedures wherein the fabric tube is expanded to eliminate wrinkles, folds and the like from the fabric. For example, it is well known to dry, cure and heat-set resin treated tubular fabrics as they pass through a drier, and the present apparatus is very useful in this process. Also, the present apparatus may be used to control the shrinkage of the tubular fabric during chemical processing, drying, steaming and calendering. This apparatus will also prevent migration of color and chemical finishes as well as reduce the drying time of the fabric, since the fabric is held in a uniformly expanded condition.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

I claim:

1. In a tubular fabric spreading apparatus including a spreader frame adapted to fit within a continuous length of tubular fabric and having opposite sides adapted to engage and substantially flatten a tubular fabric, the combination therewith of improved means for propelling the fabric engaged by opposite sides of the spreader frame, said propelling means comprising:

(a) conveying means positioned exteriorly of and adjacent each side of said spreader frame and supported for movement in a predetermined path of travel parallel to opposite sides of said spreader frame and for a major portion of the length thereof,

(b) fabric gripping means carried by said conveying means for engaging and gripping the fabric to positively connect the fabric to said conveying means independently of said spreader frame for positive advancement of the fabric with said conveying means,

(c) means for driving said conveying means at a selected speed to thereby positivelyadvance opposite side portions of the fabric at a desired rate throughout a major portion of the length of the spreader frame, and

(d) means operable in timed relation to movement of said fabric gripping means for imparting limited movement to said fabric gripping means relative to said conveying means to withdraw the same from the fabric.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each said fabric conveying means includes a plurality of said fabric gripping means spaced along at least the major portion of the length of said spreader frame.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said fabric gripping means each comprise a pin wheel having outwardly extending pins adapted to engage the fabric at opposite sides of said spreader frame.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said fabric conveying means includes conveyor chains carrying said pin Wheels and supported for movement in oblong paths of travel adjacent each side of said spreader frame to successively bring said pin wheels into engagement with the fabric as they move along the inner reach of said conveyor chain, and to successively move said pin wheels out of engagement with the fabric as they move toward the outer reach of said conveyor chain.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the outer portions of the pins of said pin wheels are bent in the direction of movement of said conveyor chain so that the pins move longitudinally into the fabric as said pin wheels are successively brought into engagement with the fabric.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said pin Wheels are supported for rotation and including locking means for normally maintaining said pin Wheels in a non-rotating position as they move along the inner reach of said conveyor chain, and releasing means for releasing said locking means as said pin wheels approach the end of the path of travel adjacent each side of said spreader frame.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said means for imparting limited movement to the fabric gripping means includes means disposed adjacent the end of the path of travel of said pin wheels adjacent each side of said spreader frame and following said releasing means for imparting rotation to said pin Wheels in a direction opposite their direction of movement to insure proper removal of the pins from the fabric as the pin wheels move away from the fabric adjacent the end of their movement along the inner reach of said conveyor chain.

8. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said locking means includes first brake elements fixed relative to said pin wheels, second brake elements supported in a non-rotating position adjacent said first brake elements and normally maintained in engagement therewith to prevent rotation of said pin wheels, and said releasing means including cam means positioned adjacent the end of the path of travel of said pin wheels adjacent each side of said spreader frame, said cam means being operable to successively move said second brake elements out of engagement With said first brake elements and release said pin wheels for rotation as they reach the end of their movement along the inner reach of said conveyor chain.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said means for imparting limited movement to the fabric gripping means includes a continuously driven wheel supported adjacent the end of the path of travel of said pin wheels adjacent each side of said spreader frame, and wherein said first brake elements comprise a drive Wheel associated with each of said pin wheels and being engageable by said continuously driven wheel to successively impart rotation to said pin wheels as the pin wheels reach the end of their movement along the inner reach of said conveyor chain and following the release of said pin wheels for rotation.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1 including means supporting said fabric gripping means for lateral adjustment relative to said spreader frame.

11. In a tubular fabric spreading apparatus including a spreader frame adapted to fit within a continuous length of tubular fabric and having opposite sides adapted to engage and substantially flatten a tubular fabric, the combination therewith of improved means for drawing the tubular fabric over said spreader frame comprising (a) fabric drawing rolls supported to engage the fabric after it passes over said spreader frame and being of greater length than the width of the tubular fabric after it passes over said spreader frame,

(b) means for propelling the portions of the fabric engaged by opposite sides of the spreader frame in a uniform manner and including (1) a plurality of spaced fabric advancing members positioned adjacent each side of said spreader frame,

(2) means supporting said fabric advancing members for movement parallel to opposite sides of said spreader frame,

(3) said fabric advancing members each including pins having free ends adapted to at least partially penetrate and positively engage the external surface of the fabric being drawn over opposite sides of said spreader frame, the portions of said pins adjacent the free ends extending outwardly at an angle opposite the direction of movement of said fabric advancing members, said fabric advancing members uniformly and continuously gripping and feeding the tubular fabric over said frame and throughout the extent of the parallel movement of said fabric advancing members,

(0) fabric feed rolls supported to engage the fabric in advance of said spreader frame and being of lesser length than the width of the tubular fabric before it reaches the widest portion of said spreader frame, and

9 10 (d) means for driving said draw rolls, said fabric ad- (6) variable speed means interposed in the driving vancing members, and said feed rolls at variably connection between said feed rolls and said main selected speeds to thereby positively propel opposite drive shaft. sides of the fabric at the desired rate, relative to the References Cited rate of movement of the central portion of the fabric UNITED STATES PATENTS and to the overall rate of movement of the fabric 5 through the spreading apparatus 2,583,630 1/ 1952 Chatfield 2655 XR 12. A fabric spreading apparatus according to claim 11 3126606 3/1964 Beard 26 51'3 XR wherein said drive means ((1) comprises 3189,51) 12/1966 Carter et (1) a main drive shaft drivingly connected to said 3334391 8/1967 Kusters et 26 55 fabric advancing members, 10 FOREIGN PATENTS (2) means for rotating said main drive shaft at a selected speed, 15,957 1908 Great Britain. (3) means drivingly connecting said draw rolls to said 1,268,201 6/1961 France.

main drive shaft, (4) variable speed means interposed in the driving 10 ROBERT MACKEY Examine" connection between said draw rolls and said main US. Cl. X.R. drive shaft, (5) means drivingly connecting said feed rolls to said main drive shaft, and 

